Monday, September 7, 2015

Recently we released our new September 2015 Lookbook focusing on the NINETIES. To go along with this, we will be posting blogs throughout the month of some of our favorite moments, items, styles, or looks of the decade. Look for a new blog post every Monday and make sure to check out our lookbook HERE if you haven't already!

So, today I'm going to be sharing with you one of my favorite styles of the decade: 90's GRUNGE.

I know most of us may know what grunge fashion is and get the gist of what it entails,

BUT

Upon diving into the movement a little deeper I found some pretty interesting details about it's history that I'd love to share with ya.

Grunge can simple be characterized by "non-fashion" (A pretty harsh description if you ask me) or in sweeter terms, an uncoordinated look with a edge. Staples popular in grunge wear include: flannels, worn or ripped denim, oversized knits, band tees, printed skirts, ripped tights, and combat or hiking boots.While most consider the true origins of grunge to ooze from Kurt Cobain's closet, the roots of grunge were really born in the streets of Seattle. A younger generation found themselves searching for second-hand clothing staples that would go against the flashiness of the 80's. In an effort to find cheap, durable, timeless pieces they looked no further than local thrift shops. Surrounded by a regional logging-industry, flannels and Pendleton wools were easy to come by as a utilitarian necessity. Also, Seattle's weather can vary by 20 degrees in a given day, making it convenient to have a warm flannel ready around the waist: hence, Grunge is born.

These effortlessly edgy pieces soon found themselves on the decade's emerging musicians. They took these "uncool" pieces and made them VERY COOL to youth in and out of Seattle (with the addition of a little less showering). Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" music video ran on MTV 4-5 times a day for weeks. Before long, Seattle's Grunge Rock style took over the streets of New York City and eventually the rest of America.

Along with Grunge came another even smaller moment in fashion: Kinderwhore. The risqué style was characterized by babydoll dresses, slips/nighties worn as dresses, ripped tights, plastic hair barrettes, bows, heavy or smeared makeup, leather boots and mary janes. It was a style meant to be sexually provocative by contrasting femininity and fragility with the aggressive music of grunge rock and punk. Leading ladies such as Kat Bjelland of Babes in Toyland, Kim Shattuck of The Muffs, Christina Amphlett of Divinyls and of course Courtney Love of Hole popularized the look on and offstage.

What was once known as "non-fashion" soon found itself intertwined with high fashion. In 1993 Marc Jacobs created a Spring collection for Perry Ellis (This show would basically be Marc's "interview" to take over the line of the recently deceased designer). A 25 year old Jacobs found himself wanting to destroy the 80's and celebrate a movement in fashion that he truly loved. He did so by creating a show that featured layered and vintage looks made out of luxury fabrics.

Marc was fired soon after the runway show. Some thought that he killed the movement but, this remains to be THE show that launched the rest of his career. Despite The mixed reviews, Bergdorf Goodman went on to sell flannel printed shorts for $275 and wool ski caps for $175.
A few short months later...

Even though the king of Grunge himself declared it dead, I just want to point one thing out:
Plaid and flannel shirts, oversized sweaters, band tees, babydoll dress, ripped denim, torn tights, high-waisted cutoff jeans, leather boots, Doc Martens...Any of these ringing a bell?
Sounds to me like things you'd find in a modern closet nowadays. Grunge is back if you want it to be! I'm not saying go full out and don't wash your hair and clothes (Although if that what's you're into GO FOR IT), but we shouldn't forget the roots of so many of our favorite wardrobe pieces nowadays. There are plenty of ways to bring back that grungy vibe of the nineties in a modern way. I think a good way to go about it is to choose a few pieces that highlight the style instead of an entire ensemble. Doing so can take the costume factor down and give it a modern flair by adding some updated pieces. I've put together several looks that I think do just that.
But first, here are a few more photos that inspired the looks.

(Just want to point out that we have this exact same lunchbox that she's holding in store!)

I love the idea of mixing some characteristics of Grunge with some aspects of the Kinderwhore movement. The edginess of Seattle-based streetwear with a feminine edge.

Without further adieu, here are my looks all put together with Street Scene goods!